GIRLS HOCKEY 2021-22
Though girls may participate in any hockey program in Houston, we are excited to announce that for the 2021-22 season, girls now have the opportunity to participate in hockey in an all-girls setting. The Houston Storm is a new nonprofit organization geared towards allowing girls to play hockey amongst other girls. The Houston Storm fields teams at 10U and 12U House, in addition to a 10U and 12U select tournament team and a 14U Travel Tier 2 team and High School team.
The Houston Storm Website
HOUSE
HTX Storm will field a house hockey program in the co-ed house hockey league in the 10U and 12U divisions. The divisions are non-checking, and these teams will practice at their local rinks but will then be assembled from all of the rinks to play on a girls-only team against the other skill-appropriate teams in the league.
Travel Teams
HTX Storm will field travel tournament teams at 10U and 12U levels; these teams will compete against another all-girls team at USA Hockey sanctioned tournaments and events. Contests, similar to those of the Wild, may be outside of Texas; thus, there is a heavy time commitment and financial commitment required to participate in this program.
14U Tier 2 Team and High School
HTX Storm will field a travel two team that will participate in the 14U travel level and the High school level as well. Games will include a regular-season against both all-girls Tiers 2 teams elsewhere in Texas or beyond, some properly assessed co-ed (boys) teams in a non-contact format, as well as all-girls travel tournaments regionally. It is expected that the High School team will also compete in Girls High School Championships at the state and potentially national levels.
Why should my daughter play with an all-girls team as opposed to a co-ed team?
Paragraph from Lightning Made Hockey
We understand that your daughter may be competing at a higher level against higher skill level players and we do not want to deter you from that choice. That is of course your decision to make.
However, let us ask you how much of a leadership role does she have on that team? Is she able to lead her line and teach those less skilled than her? Does she have an established role on that team or is she told to simply the boys and do what they do?
We find that through girls only programs, girls are developing into leaders and finding their own voice on the team. They are surrounded by their teammates in the locker room and not missing out on that team bonding experience. She will learn more about the game and given clear expectations for how she can help the team improve and succeed as well as given her own individual goals to grow and develop.
The reality is that girls and boys play a very different skilled style of game. Girls are required carry the puck more, complete more passes and typically be skilled on their feet. Since they cannot use their body to force their opponent off the puck, they must use their hands and feet while using quick decision making and a swift style. The game becomes faster for them and they learn more about the positional side of the game. The earlier she is able to learn this style of play, the more successful she will be later down the road when it comes to her future in girls' hockey.
USA Hockey and CO-ED vs All-Girls team
For more information regarding girls hockey programs in the Houston area or to answer any of your questions visit The Houston Storm or contact us via the contact form submission page.
